December 17, 2018 FROM: DANIEL ZACK, AICP Assistant Director Development and Resource Management Department BY: LAURA VAN ONNA Historic Preservation Specialist Development and Resource Management Department SUBJECT: ..Title CONSIDER AND MAKE FINDINGS ON THE APPLICATION BY THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO INSTALL FRONT YARD FENCING AT THE WHARTON HOME (CONTRIBUTOR TO PORTER TRACT HISTORIC DISTRICT) LOCATED AT 1021 E WELDON AVENUE PURSUANT TO FMC 12-1606(a)(2) and 12-1618(h)(1). ..Body RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Commission approve the Application by the property owners to install front yard fencing at the Wharton Home (contributor to Porter Tract Historic District) located at 1021 E Weldon Avenue pursuant to FMC 12-1606(a)(2) and 12-1618(h)(1) with the following conditions: 1) Staff will be allowed to photograph before, during and upon completion of the project; and 2) Any changes to the approved project will be submitted to the Historic Preservation Specialist prior to the commencement of any related work. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The owners of the Wharton Home have requested that their Application to install front yard fencing be considered for Historic Review. Although the subject request would not normally require a building permit, it is an exterior alteration visible from the public right-of-way which could affect the significance of a historic resource - in this case, a Local Historic District. Because this project proposal is a substantial alteration, it requires review by the Historic Preservation Commission. Primary concerns for Staff are the main elevation and its relationship to neighboring contributors in the Porter Tract Historic District as they are the most prominent character-defining features of the historic resource. Pursuant to FMC 12-1606(a)(2) and 12-1618(h)(1), Staff requests that the Commission consider and make findings on this Application. BACKGROUND The owners of the Wharton Home have requested that their Application to install a footpath and front yard fencing be considered for Historic Review. The request to install a footpath is considered a non-substantial alteration and can therefore be reviewed administratively by the Historic Preservation Specialist. However, the request to install front yard fencing, although under normal circumstances is permitted by the Development Code, is an exterior alteration visible from the public right-of-way which could affect the significance of a historic resource - in this case, a Local Historic District. Because this project proposal is a substantial alteration, it requires review by the Historic Preservation Commission. The fencing plans entail the construction of an all-natural, redwood picket fence 3 feet in height that would surround the front yard on three sides with two gates for access, set back 3 feet from the back of the adjacent sidewalk and on the interior side property lines. 4 inch by 4 inch posts would be spaced 8 feet apart, and 4 inch redwood, dog-eared posts would be spaced 3 inches apart. These plans are being proposed by the applicant to protect children and pets playing in the yard from exposure to a busy street. Upon initial review of the Application for the Wharton Home, Staff finds that the fence as proposed does conform to fencing standards for Single-Family Homes as put forth in the Development Code. In reference to the Historic Preservation Ordinance, Staff finds that the main elevation and its relationship to neighboring contributors in the Porter Tract Historic District are the primary concerns as they are the most prominent character-defining features of the historic resource. The Porter Tract Historic District consists of 45 properties, all of which are contributors. Currently, two of these properties have front yard fencing - one of which is also located on E Weldon Avenue and consists of wood picket fencing. The other is located on E Cambridge Avenue and consists of stone topped by wrought iron. The Porter Tract Historic District does not have a Conservation Plan. However, in order to review the proposed project, the two other designated residential Local Historic Districts and their Conservation Plans were referenced. The Wilson Island Historic District consists of 80 properties, 78 of which are contributors. Currently, six of these properties have front yard fencing. The Conservation Plan for the Wilson Island Historic District does not make specific reference to front yard fencing. The Huntington Boulevard Historic District consists of 84 properties, 80 of which are contributors. Currently two of these properties have front yard fencing. The Conservation Plan for the Huntington Boulevard Historic District makes reference to front yard fencing as follows: (iv)(L) Fences above three feet in height, other than wrought iron which may be four feet, are prohibited in front yards in Fresno unless an exemption is granted by the Development and Resource Management Department. Chain link fences in the front yard shall be prohibited under this Conservation Plan. As mention of front yard fencing in existing residential Conservation Plans is either not specifically referenced or is consistent with the Development Code, it appears that in general, proposals for front yard fencing in Local Historic Districts are reviewed on a discretionary case-by-case basis. According to the introduction to "The Porter Tract: An Historical & Architectural Survey" completed in Spring 1990, The Porter Tract Historic District: ...contained a diverse collection of architectural styles within the context of strong visual consistencies in building scale and property setbacks. These simple "architectural controls" gave the neighborhood an homogeneous look that added to its architectural interest without resulting in the kind of "sameness" that characterizes so many latter-day housing developments. Despite the numerous architectural styles represented in the District, including Prairie and variations on the Prairie Box, Spanish Revival, Neoclassical, Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival, Italian Renaissance, and Craftsman, there are basic identifiable design standards which include the setback. The main elevation of the subject residence and its relationship to neighboring contributors are the most prominent character-defining features of the historic resource. And, the installation of front yard fencing is an exterior alteration visible from the public right-of-way which could affect the significance of the Porter Tract Historic District. However, in accordance with standards 9 and 10 of the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation, this project as proposed would not destroy historic materials, features and spatial relationships or cause irreparable harm if removed in the future. And, the proposed new work is differentiated from the old and compatible with the historic materials, features, size, scale and proportion, and massing to protect the integrity of the property and its environment. Therefore, Staff recommends approval with conditions. The Wharton Home (1916) located at 1021 E Weldon Avenue consists of a two-story residence, clad in painted plaster. It was built by J. G. Porter, with elements of the Craftsman architectural style. The original development of the Porter Tract began c. 1914-1915 within a portion of the College Addition. The development and construction of the Fresno Normal School campus (1915) to the south, and later the Fresno High School campus (1920-1922) to the west, contributed greatly to the residential growth of the Porter Tract. The Resolution designating the Porter Tract Historic District to the Local Register of Historic Resources was adopted on April 3, 2001. The District consists of 45 properties, all of which are greater than 50 years of age, and possesses integrity of location, design, materials, workmanship, feeling, and location (FMC 12-1607). Additionally, the District is significant for its architecture and social history. Duties and Powers of the Commission: The City's Historic Preservation Ordinance is located at Chapter 12, Article 16 of the Fresno Municipal Code. Section 1606 outlines the duties and powers of the Commission. Section 1606(a)(2) specifically refers to the duties entailing review of alterations to historic resources: (a)(2) The regulation of exterior alterations visible from a public right-of-way including demolition, relocation and new construction, and interior alterations which would affect the significance of Historic Resources or Historic Districts. Section 1618 outlines the Historic District Permit Review Process. Section 1618(h)(1) specifically refers to the review of a contributor to a Historic District: (h) No application shall be approved or approved with modifications unless the Commission makes the following findings: (1) For a Contributor to any Historic District, the proposed work is found to be consistent with the general purposes of this article and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards, not detrimental to the special historical, architectural or aesthetic interest or value of the Contributor or the respective Historic District in general and consistent with the District's adopted design standards. Historic Review Application Submittal Check List The Submittal Check List for the Historic Review Application includes the following: * Current photographs o At least one overall view of the property o A detailed view of each historic feature that involves the proposed work * Construction Documents o An existing site plan (and a proposed site plan if different from existing), drawn to scale, which clearly indicates all structures located on the parcel; and, the parcel's North, South, East, and West property lines o Detailed drawings, visuals, and descriptions for the proposed work Attachments Exhibit A: Introduction to "The Porter Tract: An Historical & Architectural Survey" Compiled by The CARA Group, The College Addition Research Associates, Fresno City College in Spring 1990. Exhibit B: State of California Survey Forms for the Wharton Home 1021 E Weldon Avenue Prepared May, 1990 by Elizabeth R. Tolle and Addendum Prepared October, 2000 by Laura Parrot and Dolores Mellon for the City of Fresno. Exhibit C: Historic Review Application Submittal from the owners of the Wharton Home (contributor to Porter Tract Historic District) located at 1021 E Weldon Avenue, December 2018.